The Classic Summer Bucket List

Jun 20 2017

Summer has to be my favourite season. The days are warmer, the nights are livelier, and everyone is outdoors enjoying the city. I feel like I’ve been waiting all year for summer! I have my hot new one-piece swimsuit with beach bag in tow and I’m ready to make the most of it!

Toronto really comes to life in the summer time. Every weekend there’s a street festival, food fair, or community get together. The whole city is vibrant with people and good energy. It’s the perfect time to discover and rediscover the hidden gems of Toronto.

Every time summer rolls around, I become filled with ideas of all the summery things I want to do, but when Labour Day sneaks up, I’m always left thinking I missed out and didn’t get a chance to do it all. So this year, I’ve put together a bucket list of all the classic summer activites I want to do in Toronto. Keep reading to see what on my list…

The Classic Summer Bucket List 20 Fun Things To Do Before Summer Ends

1. Get ice cream from an ice cream truck – This is such ultimate classic summer thing to do! When I hear the ice cream truck jingle, it brings back so many childhood memories.

3. Brunch on a patio – I’ve kind of already done this one, but I could always do this again! A few of my fave patio brunches are Colette, Portland Variety, and Le Sélect Bistro.

4. Summer cocktails on the patio – I need to make this a weekly ritual, there’s nothing like sipping on a drink and watching the sunset with a good company.

5. Go to an outdoor concert or music festival – One of my favourite festivals is the Jazz Festival at the Beaches!

6. Take a road trip to some where new – road trips are synonymous with summer, and there are so many great escapes around Toronto that are just a few hours away like Blue Mountain, Niagara Falls and Muskoka.

7. Watch a parade – I can’t remember the last time I watched a parade. So this is a must for me!

8. Boat ride on the lake – I live just 5 minutes away from the lake and never enjoy it, this year I’m going to make sure I go for a boat ride whether it’s a canoe or yacht!

9. Go berry picking – Berry season in Ontario is amazing and I’ve been wanting to do this for the last couple of years.

10. Have a bonfire with friends and make s’mores – What’s better that getting together with some friends and having a bonfire?

11. Leisurely bike rides – Since I got my bike last year I mostly use it to commute (yass to free parking downtown!!), but this year I’d like to spend a little more time doing some leisurely biking. I’ve been wanting to check out the bike trails Toronto Island and in the Don Valley.

12. Visit the local pool – I haven’t gone to the local pool in ages!

13. Go food hunting – Which is basically finding a delicious pic of something to eat on Instagram and then scoping it out for real.

14. Go to a Jay’s baseball game – I’ve only been once in my 4 years in the Toronto and I definitely need to go again!

15. Picnic in the park – Nothing like spending a day enjoying the greenery and eating with good food with great company.

16. Watch the fireworks – Growing up me and my friends would watch fireworks every year at the Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival in Vancouver. But since I’ve move to Toronto, I haven’t actually seen a full fireworks show.

17. Take a hike – Growing up in BC, I love to hike, and Ontario is filled with so many beautiful National Parks that just happen to be free this year to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday!

18. Have a beach day – It’s not summer without a day at the beach, sand between your toes, and the sound of water lapping on the shore.

19. Discover at least 5 new Toronto neighbourhoods – It’s sad to say, but I mainly stay in my downtown Toronto bubble. I live, work and eat and play, all in my own neighbourhood which is great, but I know Toronto has so many other great neighbourhoods and I need to discover and explore.

20. CNE – And even if you think the CNE is over rated, it’s a must for a classic Toronto summer bucket list.

Looking back at this list, I know what you’re thinking, I’m a big kid at heart right? But I think as adults we forget to do all the the fun things in life and I think that’s what summer is all about. So have a little fun this summer!

Summer Outfit Details:

This white hot summer one-piece is the A Mari usque ad Mare Tank Bather courtesy of Tuck Shop Co. It was designed in celebration of Canada’s 150th with a maple leaf pattern in a mix of gorgeous pastel colours. This little number made me fall in love with one-piece swimsuits again. Gone are the days when wearing a one-piece swimsuit meant you were either a serious swimmer, sun-averse, or body-conscious. They have a certain sex appeal to them and are oh-so flattering, and now I can’t get enough of them!

I’ve paired the tank bather with some Levi’s vintage cut of shorts from Aritizia for a little more coverage and accessorized my outfit with some classic aviators courtesy of Made Eyewear, and my fave straw tote from Joe Fresh (which has been on many summer adventures with me, including being a pillow and my dog carrier), and finished it off with pair of double strap slide sandals from LC Lauren Conrad (also seen here).

What at the top of your Summer Bucket list? Let me know in the comments below!

OMG I’m totally going to do some of these! I love the idea of watching a parade and going berry picking! That sounds like so much fun!! Thanks for the awesome ideas to get me thinking about this summer!

I love all of these! My must have on any summer list is plenty of beach time! I grew up in Southern California and always had sand between my toes and salt water in my hair. Now that I live in Wisconsin and have kids of my own we still spend our days lazing by water, only it is a lake now. Still a perfect way to spend the lazy days of summer!

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Yes Missy is a light-hearted lifestyle blog that celebrates a living beautiful life and all the things that make it special. Here you’ll find things I love and feel passionate about, from fashion and beauty to decor, travel, and more. Beyond just a the blog, Yes Missy encompasses my philosophy that life is about creating moments and not waiting for them.

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